Psy 200 Spring 14 Syllabus

Psy 200 Introductory Statistics Page 1
Psychological Statistical Methods
Psychology 200-005, Spring 2014
T/Th 8am – 9:15am, Hill 311
Instructor: Carrie Melia
Office: Park Central Office Building (PCOB) 005
Office Hours: M/W 9-1:30, T/TH 9:30-3, or by appointment
Email: Melia00@live.missouristate.edu
Phone: I can be contacted by phone at RStats during my office hours at: 417-836-4631
**The best way to reach me is via email**
Required Materials:
Text: Pagano, R. (2008). Understanding Statistics in the Behavioral Sciences, 10th
Edition. Wadsworth.
Calculator: Please buy a calculator with basic calculation functions (e.g., addition, multiplication) and with
some advanced functions (e.g., square root, exponents) such as the T-9. You do not need to spend a lot of
money on a calculator that can perform statistical functions or a graphing calculator!
SPSS: Bring a DVD-R for a free copy of SPSS to the Cheek Computer Lab, Room 150. (Open-access labs
will have SPSS including labs in Hill, Cheek, Glass, and Meyer Library)
Note: This textbook was chosen because it provides an excellent framework for understanding statistics. The
author explains statistical methods and concepts at an introductory course level, which facilitates
comprehension. The text provides multiple examples of solved solutions for practice problems for each
chapter to allow for further practice. Additionally, the end-of-chapter problems are relevant to the field of
psychology and will be used for homework assignments.
However, I realize the text is expensive. Sometimes purchasing the book online is cheaper than through the
bookstore. I encourage you to examine all of your options. If you do happen to purchase the text online, here
is a link to the tenth edition:
http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Statistics-Behavioral-Quantitative-
Psychology/dp/1111837260/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386966739&sr=8-
1&keywords=Robert+Pagano+Understanding+statistics+in+the+behavioral+sciences+10th+edition
The ninth edition of Pagano may also be used, although I recommend purchasing the tenth edition to avoid
confusion with homework problems from the book.
Course Description and Objectives:
This course will broaden student’s knowledge of statistics in the behavioral sciences. Students will come
away with a basic knowledge of introductory level descriptive and inferential statistics. Students will learn to
conduct and comprehend basic statistics by hand and by SPSS and will also become experienced at
evaluating scientific studies, interpreting statistical output, and formatting results in APA style.
The psychology department has outlined learning outcomes for undergraduates. This course fulfills the
following requirements:
 Improve your knowledge base in psychology. Students in this course will acquire basic knowledge
about the field of psychology through examples in both text books, data sets used in class, and the
laboratory counterpart of real-life psychological experiments. Thus, students will become
familiarized with the types of studies typically performed in psychology.

 Knowledge about applications of statistics to psychology. Students in this course will come away
with a comprehensive understanding of statistics for the behavioral sciences. Students will
understand basic statistical methods commonly used in psychology, such as descriptive and basic
inferential statistics.
 Knowledge of scientific methods and your ability to evaluate evidence. Students in this course
will evaluate research experiments for validity and ethicality in the laboratory counterpart.
Grades:
Grading Breakdown
Amount
Points
Each Total Points
Total
Percentage
In-Class Labs 20 10 200 25%
Quizzes 5 20 100 12.5%
Assignments 5 20 100 12.5%
Examinations 4 100 400 50%
800 possible pts 100%
Points Percentages Grade
720-800 90%-100% A
640-719 80%- 89.99% B
560-639 70%- 79.99% C
480-559 60%-69.99% D
≤ 479 ≤ 59.99% F
*I reserve the right to round grades. Additionally, the plus/minus system will not be used in this class.*
Explanation of Grade Items
1. In-Class Labs (25%). In-Class Labs are an opportunity to practice lecture material learned in class. You
will not have to turn the labs in. However, you must raise your hand to be “checked-off” on the lab
before leaving class. Please note that although attendance isn’t required, labs are worth a large portion of
your grade. Labs cannot be made up. Therefore, it is beneficial for you to attend class!
2. Quizzes (12.5%). Six total quizzes will be administered at the beginning of class. Tentative quiz dates
are denoted by a on the class schedule. Material to be covered by each quiz will be discussed during
the previous class period and will be posted on BlackBoard. Quizzes will be short; they should not take
more than fifteen minutes to complete. The quizzes are designed to increase comprehension and also
increase familiarity with the course material. Quizzes should be viewed as a tool to boost your grade for
this course. The lowest quiz grade will be dropped. Therefore, missed quizzes cannot be made up, even if
you have an excused absence. If you come in late after all students have submitted their quiz, you will be
unable to take the quiz. The quizzes are worth 20 points each.
3. Assignments (12.5%). Five total homeworks will be assigned from the end-of-the-chapter problems
from the book for most chapters covered. Specific problems to be completed for each chapter will be
discussed in class and also posted on BlackBoard. Assignments are due at least one week after being
assigned (e.g., if the homework was assigned on Tuesday, the homework will be due the following

Tuesday) at the beginning of the class period. If there is a Holiday (e.g., Thanksgiving break),
assignments will be due the next class period after returning from the holiday. Due dates will also be
posted on BlackBoard to avoid confusion. Late homework will be accepted at a penalty. Students who
turn in homework late will lose 10 points for each class period the homework is late. Homeworks will be
returned the next class period after they are submitted, and always before the exams. If homeworks are to
be returned on a quiz day, students will be given the opportunity to review their homeworks during the
first several minutes of class before taking the quiz.
4. Examinations (50%). There will be three examinations and one final examination throughout the
duration of this course. You must take all four exams. Make-up exams are available during the last week
of classes at the end of this Fall 2013 semester for excused absences only (e.g., a court excuse, a doctor’s
note stating you were contagious, proof of death of an immediate family member). There will be an in-
class review session before each exam. Specific topics for each exam will be discussed during the review
session and posted on BlackBoard. The final examination will be cumulative and cannot be made up.
The university has a policy stating that the final MUST be taken during the scheduled time. I urge you to
make every effort to attend the final. If there is an emergency, please contact me immediately. Do not
remove the exams from the classroom; they must be submitted to me before leaving the class.
5. Extra Credit: Students will have the opportunity to earn extra credit in this class. Extra credit may be
handed in to me at any time throughout the semester. However, all extra credit is due during class by
Tuesday, 5/6. Extra Credit will NOT be accepted after the end of the class Tuesday. Each What’s the
truth question will be worth 1 point (16 points total) and each SPSS additional problem will be worth 2
points (38 points total). Therefore, there is the potential to earn 56 extra credit points, or 7 percentage
points! I encourage you to complete as many extra credit problems as possible.
a. What’s the Truth? Certain Chapters contain “What’s the Truth?” sections that build critical
thinking skills. For these chapters, read the “What’s the Truth?” sections and thoughtfully
answer the questions about each section located in the end-of-the-chapter problems. Each
What’s the Truth question submitted to me has the potential of earning 1 extra credit point.
Questions that are not answered in a thoughtful or substantial way will receive partial, if any,
credit. See table below for an outline of how many What’s the truth questions are available per
chapter. If you have trouble locating these in the book, please ask me! Please hand in a typed or
handwritten response to these questions, and any other additional materials (e.g., if they ask you
to find magazine articles, hand those in as well).
b. SPSS Additional Problems: Certain chapters contain SPSS additional problems that will help
you prepare for exams and increase familiarity with SPSS. These problems are located at the
end of the end-of-the-chapter problems. It is helpful to first work through the SPSS example
they give you with the solution shown (this will not be turned in). Then, the “SPSS additional
problems” will be easier to complete. Please hand in a printed copy of your output and any
additional work/notes the problem requires. Each SPSS additional problems has the potential to
earn two extra credit points. Questions that are not completed in a thoughtful or substantial way
will earn partial, if any, credit. See the table below for an outline of which SPSS problems to
complete.

Chapter What's the truth? SPSS
Chapter 1 3 0
Chapter 2 0 2
Chapter 3 1 2
Chapter 4 0 3
Chapter 5 0 N/A
Chapter 6 2 2
Chapter 7 0 2
Chapter 8 3 0
Chapter 9 0 0
Chapter 10 4 0
Chapter 12 0 0
Chapter 13 0 2
Chapter 14 0 5
Chapter 15 1 3
Total Points: 14 (21x2) =42
Course Policies
1. Late policy: Students coming into class late should enter quietly so as not to distract others.
Typically, lectures will be presented during the first half of the class and the remainder of the class
will be devoted to working on the labs. Therefore, it is beneficial to you to arrive on time, so you can
successfully work through the labs.
2. Attendance: Attendance is expected, and necessary to do well in this course. Although attendance
will not be factored into your grade, consistent attendance and class participation will be taken into
consideration if you have a borderline grade.
3. Make-Up Policy:
a. University Approved: If you are absent the day of an exam you have 48 hours from the time
you are capable of contacting me to get a hold of me or you will not be allowed to take the
make-up. (e.g. If you get in a car accident and are in a coma, you have 48 hours after you
wake up to email or call me). You must have a valid excuse in order to be allowed to
schedule the make-up. Valid excuses include illness, university-sanctioned travel, and
observance of a religious holy day. Documentation of any absence will be required. If you
miss a make up time, 10% of the grade you make on the test will be deducted for each make
up time.
b. My personal policy: Students who turn in homework late will lose ten points for each class
period the homework is late. Homework that was not turned in cannot be made up. The final
examination cannot be made up. The three examinations throughout the semester are only
available for make up at the end of the semester, and only for students who contact me in
advance and provide a valid excuse.
4. Disabilities statement: To request academic accommodations for a disability, contact the Director
of Disability Services, Plaster Student Union, Suite 405, (417) 836-4192 or (417) 836-6792 (TTY),
http://www.missouristate.edu/disability. Students are required to provide documentation of disability
to Disability Services prior to receiving accommodations. Disability Services refers some types of
accommodation requests to the Learning Diagnostic Clinic, which also provides diagnostic testing

for learning and psychological disabilities. For information about testing, contact the Director of the
Learning Diagnostic Clinic, (417) 836-4787, http://psychology.missouristate.edu/ldc.
5. Statement about academic misconduct and consequences. Missouri State University is a
community of scholars committed to developing educated persons who accept the responsibility to
practice personal and academic integrity. You are responsible for knowing and following the
university’s student honor code, Student Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures, available at
http://www.missouristate.edu/assets/provost/AcademicIntegrityPolicyRev-1-08.pdf. If you are caught
cheating in my classroom, you will be reported to the Academic Integrity Council.
6. Nondiscrimination policy. Missouri State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action
institution, and maintains a grievance procedure available to any person who believes he or she has
been discriminated against. At all times, it is your right to address inquiries or concerns about
possible discrimination to the Office for Equity and Diversity, Park Central Office Building, 117
Park Central Square, Suite 111, (417) 836-4252. Other types of concerns (i.e., concerns of an
academic nature) should be discussed directly with your instructor and can also be brought to the
attention of your instructor’s Department Head, Dr Timothy Daughtery.
7. Classroom behavior policies. Students are expected to familiarize themselves with the material
before coming to class. Additionally, disruptive behavior will not be tolerated in the classroom.
Students with consistent disruptive behavior will be asked to leave the class. Please raise your hand if
you have a question as opposed to speaking out in class. Cell phone use in class will not be tolerated!
Please silence your cell phones. If you are expecting an emergency call, please see me at the
beginning of class to discuss leaving your cell phone on vibrate. Cell phones are NOT allowed to be
used during any quiz or test.
8. Emergency response. Students who require assistance during an emergency evacuation must discuss
their needs with their professors and Disability Services. If you have emergency medical information
to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please
make an appointment with me as soon as possible. For additional information students should contact
the Office of Disability Services, 836-4192 (PSU 405), or Larry Combs, Interim Assistant Director of
Public Safety and Transportation at 836-6576. For further information on Missouri State
University’s Emergency Response Plan, please refer to the following web site:
http://www.missouristate.edu/safetran/erp.htm
Some friendly advice:
This is a critical thinking, fast-paced course. If you want to do well in this course, you MUST:
 Attend class: Arrive prepared and on time; attendance is CRITICAL!
 Take accurate notes: Pay attention and participate in class.
 Stay current: Do your readings before class; do your homework early
 Work Hard! If you need help: talk to me, talk to your classmates, go to open help hours
Tutoring:
Help is available to you free of charge! Open statistics lab hours will be held in our classroom (room 311) at
the following days and times: M: 4-7, T: 5-7, W: 4-7, Th: 5-7. Additionally, open stats hours will be held in
room 425 in Hill Hall on MW from 3-4 as well. The math table at the Bear Claw may also be able to assist
you with this course. Additionally, I am available at RStats Institute (PCOB downtown) during my office
hours (MW 9-1:30, T/Th 9:30-3) or by appointment. You are welcome to drop by any time.

The underlined schedule is tentative and is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor.
Week Day Date Topic Quiz Topic HW
Week 1 Tuesday 1/14 Syllabus; Ch 1: The Scientific Method lecture
Ch 1 Lab
Thursday 1/16 Ch 2: Basic Concepts lecture; Ch 2 Lab
Week 2 Tuesday 1/21 Ch 3: Frequency distributions lecture 1; Ch 3 Lab Part 1Chs 1 & 2 Assign HW 1, Chs 1, 2 & 3
Thursday 1/23 Ch 3: Percentile Point/Rank lecture 2; Ch 3 Lab Part 2
Week 3 Tuesday 1/28 Ch 4: Central Tendency and Variability; Ch 4 Lab
Thursday 1/30 Ch 5: Normal Curve and standard scores lecture 1 Chs 3 & 4 HW 1 due
Ch 5 Lab, Part 1
Week 4 Tuesday 2/4 Ch 5: Normal Curve and standard scores lecture 2 Return HW 1
Ch 5 Lab, Part 2; Review for Exam 1
Thursday 2/6 Exam 1: Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Week 5 Tuesday 2/11 Review of exam 1
Ch 8: Random Sampling and probability lecture; Ch 8 Lab
Thursday 2/13 Ch 9: Binomial Distribution Lecture; Ch 9 Lab Assign HW 2, Chs 8, 9, 10
Week 6 Tuesday 2/18 Ch 10: Intro to hypothesis testing and the sign test lecture
Ch 10 Lab
Thursday 2/20 Ch 10 Lab, Continued Chs 8 & 9
Week 7 Tuesday 2/25 Ch 12: Z test lecture; Ch 12 Lab HW 2 due
Thursday 2/27 Ch 12: Z test lab, continued Return HW 2
Week 8 Tuesday 3/4 Review for Exam 2: Jeopardy!
Thursday 3/6 Exam 2: Chapters 8, 9, 10, 12
Week 9 Tuesday 3/11 NO CLASS: Spring Break!
Thursday 3/13 NO CLASS: Spring Break!
Week 10 Tuesday 3/18 Intro to Excel and SPSS lecture and Lab (Appendix E)
Thursday 3/20 Ch 13: Single Sample t-test lecture; Ch 13 Lab Assign HW 3, Ch 13
Week 11 Tuesday 3/25 Ch 13 Lab Continued; Time to work on HW in class
Thursday 3/27 Ch 14: Independent Samples t-test lecture; Ch 14 Lab Ch 13 HW 3 due; Assign HW 4
Week 12 Tuesday 4/1 Ch 14: Paired Samples t-test lecture; Ch 14 Lab Return HW 3
Thursday 4/3 Ch 14: Continue Labs
Week 13 Tuesday 4/8 Complete Study guide for Exam 3 HW 4 due
Thursday 4/10 Review for Exam 3 Ch 14 Return HW 4
Week 14 Tuesday 4/15 Exam 3: Chapters: 13 and 14
Thursday 4/17 NO CLASS: Spring Holiday!
Week 15 Tuesday 4/22 Ch 15 One-way ANOVA Lecture; Ch 15 Lab Assign HW 5
Thursday 4/24 RM ANOVA lecture and Lab (not in book)
Week 16 Tuesday 4/29 Continue ANOVA labs Ch 15, RM
Thursday 5/1 Ch 6: Correlation Lecture; Ch 6 Lab HW 5 due
Week 17 Tuesday 5/6 Ch 7: Linear Regression Lecture; Ch 7 Lab Return HW 5
Thursday 5/8 In-Class practice for Final; Review
***Final Exam: Saturday, May 10th
10:15AM – 12:15PM***
**A denotes a quiz day**

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